Pest categorisation of potato virus V (non-EU isolates)

Following a request from the EU Commission, the Panel on Plant Health has addressed the pest categorisation of non-EU isolates of potato virus V (PVV). The information currently available on geographical distribution, biology, epidemiology, potential entry pathways, potential additional impact and availability of control measures of non-EU isolates of PVV has been evaluated with regard to the criteria to qualify as a potential Union quarantine pest. Because non-EU isolates of PVV are absent from the EU, they do not meet one of the requirements to be regulated as a regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP) (presence in the EU); as a consequence, the Panel decided not to evaluate the other RNQP criteria for these isolates. This categorisation was performed considering two lineages, PVV-I (present in and outside the EU) and PVV-II (not reported in the EU), and isolate PVV-PA4 (unknown distribution). Non-EU isolates of PVV-I and PVV-PA4 do not meet one of the criteria evaluated by EFSA to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest, since they are not expected to have an additional impact in the EU. With the exception of the criterion regarding the potential consequences in the EU territory, for which the Panel is unable to conclude, non-EU isolates of PVV-II meet all the other criteria to qualify as a potential Union quarantine pest.